Sony Alpha 7C Overview

Google Users Rating:4.6/5.0

Mixing the quality and advantages of a full-frame sensor with an especially sleek and portable design, the black Sony a7C offers the hybrid recording capabilities, 24.2MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor, and intelligent AF performance you would expect from an Alpha camera but with a form factor for all-day, everyday carry.

The Sony A7C's specifications are unambitious to say the least, particularly in terms of its video capabilities, but its practical performance, from its handy vari-angle screen to its excellent AF system, make it effective enough as a camera. 

We will leave it to you to decide if its two-tone design is appealing, but for us it does not have the quality ‘feel’ of the other A7 models. Does the Sony range and the full frame mirrorless camera market need this camera, though? It's not cheap, it's not pretty and its not even technically very advanced.

Sony A7c Key Specs

• Announcement Date: 2020-09-14

• 24MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

• ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)

• Sony E Mount

• Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

• 3.00" Fully articulated Screen

• 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

• 10.0fps continuous shooting

• 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

• 120fps High-Speed Video

• Built-in Wireless

• 509g. 124 x 71 x 60 mm

• Weather Sealed Body

Advantages and Disadvantages

Where to Buy Sony A7c Cheapest?

• Bestbuy:Starting at $1799.99  (up to 0.5% cashback)

• Adorama:Starting at $1798 (up to 8% cashback)

• B&H Photo Video: Starting at  $1798 (up to 1.5% cashback)

What's in the Box?

• Sony a7C Mirrorless Camera

• Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh)

• AC Adapter

• USB Type-A to USB Type-C Cable

• Shoulder Strap

• Sony ALC-B1EM Body Cap for E-Mount Cameras

• Accessory Shoe Cap

• Limited 1-Year Warranty

Is the Sony A7c Worth Buying?

Buy it if…

• You want a full-frame camera in a small body

While the A7C isn’t the most technically advanced or high-performing of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless models, it’s noteworthy in its own way. 

• You want a great, all-round camera

Given the solid all-round image quality, excellent autofocus and image stabilisation, it’s easy to recommend this camera with few reservations.

Don't  buy it if…

• You want a large viewfinder

The Sony A7C has a rather tiny OLED viewfinder, especially when compared to the large units used on most A7-series models.

• You want to shoot 4K 60fps video

I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t capture 4K videos at 60fps, or even faster for slow-motion playback. 

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Sony α7 III Overview

Google Users Rating:4.7/5.0

The Sony a7 III is an entry-level full-frame camera that goes well beyond the basics in features, with excellent image quality, 10fps subject tracking, and 4K video capture.

Distinguished by its updated sensor design, the Sony a7 III is a well-rounded camera suitable for both photo and video applications in a variety of working situations. Refined for improved speed and low-light performance, a new 24.2MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor benefit image quality, video capabilities, and AF performance. The a7 III also sports a revised body design, with a new touchscreen LCD, improved EVF, larger battery, and dual memory card slots.

Despite its billing as a 'basic' model, the Sony a7 III is a supremely capable full frame camera. Though it doesn't have the most megapixels or shoot the fastest bursts, its well-judged mix of resolution, speed, features and price point make it an easy recommendation for all kinds of photographers and all kinds of photography.

Sony A7 III Key Specs

• Announcement Date: 2018-02-27

• 24MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

• ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)

• Sony E Mount

• Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

• 3.00" Tilting Screen

• 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

• 10.0fps continuous shooting

• 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

• 120fps High-Speed Video

• Built-in Wireless

• 650g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm

• Weather Sealed Body

Advantages and Disadvantages

Where to Buy Sony A7 III  Cheapest?

• Sony:Starting at $1799.99  (up to 0.5% cashback)

• Walmart:Starting at $1798 (up to 4% cashback)

• B&H Photo Video: Starting at  $1798 (up to 1.5% cashback)

What's in the Box?

• Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera

• Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh)

• Sony AC Adapter

• Micro-USB Cable

• Sony ALC-B1EM Body Cap for E-Mount Cameras

• Accessory Shoe Cap

• Eyepiece Cup

• Shoulder Strap

• Limited 1-Year Warranty

Is the Sony A7 III  Worth Buying?

Buy it if ...

• You’re interested in shooting sport

the A7 III’s autofocusing won’t disappoint. In addition, the silent shooting capability, wide dynamic range and good noise control make it appealing to social and wedding photographers. 

• You want a great all-rounder camera

Its high-resolution sensor, fast and reliable autofocus and good dynamic range made it wildly popular among portrait, landscape photographers. 

Don't buy it if ..

• You’re professionally

 If you’re really serious about shooting weddings professionally,the Sony A9 II or the Sony A1 are the cameras to go for.

• Only the latest model will do

Look to the Sony A7 IV. It supersedes the A7 III in every way – including price. 

Sony Alpha A7 IV Overview

Google Users Rating:4.7/5.0

The Sony A7 IV is the best mirrorless all-rounder you can buy right now. It isn't as powerful as the Sony A1, as fast as the Canon EOS R6, or as affordable as the Fujifilm X-T4, but it does offer a brilliant blend of photographic power and video versatility. By effectively combining two cameras in one, it's the best example so far of the hybrid convenience that modern mirrorless cameras can offer.

An all-arounder that pushes beyond basic, the Sony a7 IV does double duty with strong stills and video performance. An advanced hybrid mirrorless camera, the a7 IV has the resolution and AF performance that appeals to photographers along with robust 4K 60p video recording for filmmakers and content creators.

It's a stronger performer than the a7 III (which is still on sale for around $2,000), and earns our Editors' Choice award in the small, but highly competitive enthusiast category.

Sony A7 IV Key Specs

• Announcement Date: 2021-10-21

• 33MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

• No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter

• ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)

• Sony E Mount

• Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

• 3.00" Fully articulated Screen

• 3690k dot Electronic viewfinder

• 10.0fps continuous shooting

• 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

• 120fps High-Speed Video

• Built-in Wireless

• 659g. 129 x 97 x 81 mm

• Weather Sealed Body

Advantages and Disadvantages

Where to Buy Sony A7 IV Cheapest?

• Sony:Starting at $2499

• Adorama:Starting at $2498 (up to 8% cashback)

• B&H Photo Video: Starting at  $2498 (up to 1.5% cashback)

What's in the Box?

• Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

• Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh)

• AC Adapter and Power Cord

• Sony ALC-B1EM Body Cap for E-Mount Cameras

• Shoulder Strap

• Accessory Shoe Cap

• Eyepiece Cup

• USB Type-C to Type-A Cable

• Limited 1-Year Warranty

Is the Sony A7 IV Worth Buying?

Buy it if...

• You're upgrading from a full-frame DSLR

The latest mirrorless cameras have now evolved to an extent that they're now a big upgrade from most DSLRs.

• You need an all-rounder for stills and video
  There are better specialist cameras out there, but as an all-rounder the A7 IV is the best mirrorless camera you can buy. 

• Your Sony A7 III is starting to feel its age
  It's quite rare for new cameras to make significantly leaps over their predecessors these days, given how mature camera tech is. 

Don't buy it if...

• You mostly shoot sports and action
  While the Sony A7 IV is by no means a slow coach, there are better cameras out there for pro sports performance. 

• You need something discreet for travel or street shoots
  The A7 IV is undeniably powerful, but its sizable grip and 658g weight mean it's also a fairly big lump compared to other mirrorless cameras.

• Value is your main priority

As tempting as the Sony A7 IV is, it is also likely overkill for many amateur photographers. If you don't shoot much video, or tend to specialize in one particular style, then you'll get more bang for your buck with a more specialist camera and an extra lens or two with the money saved.

Sony A7C vs. A7 III vs. A7 IV: Comparison Side by Side

1.Body and handling

Sony A7C

The a7C has three dials, all controlled using your thumb. It still handles pretty well, though, with a solid body and a small but pretty comfortable grip.

• The Sony A7C is tiny by full-frame standards

• The camera is weather-sealed and sturdy

• The physical control count on the Sony A7C is kept lean

 Sony A7 III

Most of Sony's (positive) ergo changes in other recent cameras have found their way to the a7 III, but there's been some cost-cutting along the way.

• Comfortable grip 

• Touchscreen focus 

• Tilting rather than vari-angle screen 

 Sony A7 IV

The Sony A7 IV takes several design cues from the much pricier A7S III, such as the side-opening, front-facing touchscreen and a greater level of water- and dust-proofing than the A7 III.

• Side-opening vari-angle touchscreen

• Improved build quality

• New control layout with customisable dial

2.Features and Performance

 Sony A7C

With 5-axis in-body image stabilisation and Sony’s oft-lauded hybrid autofocus system on board, the A7C is amply equipped for everyday shooting.

• The Sony A7C has 5-axis in-body image stabilisation along with Sony’s AF system

• Ideal for vlogging thanks to the built-in gyro

• Sony’s colour science is improving all the time and the A7C captures excellent images

SONY A7 III

Sony has borrowed some tech from the flagship A9 sports camera, providing the A7 III with 693 phase-detection AF points covering 93% of the image area – many more than competitors such as the Nikon Z6. 

• Good low-light results 

• Effective eye autofocus  

• Dependable battery life 

Sony A7 IV

Sony cameras are considered some of the best around when it comes to autofocus – and the A7 IV, having received an AF upgrade over the A7 III, is exceptional in this regard. 

• Face and human/animal eye-detection autofocus

• In-body SteadyShot Inside image stabilisation

• USB streaming and power supply

3.Image Quality

Sony A7C

The a7C produces both Raw and JPEG images that are a match for any of its peers. Dynamic range is excellent but you need to shoot large, uncompressed Raw files to get the full benefit.

• Full-frame 24.2MP Back-Illuminated Exmor R CMOS Image Sensor with Evolved Image Processing

• Wide ISO range of 100 - 51200 (expandable to ISO 50 – 204800 for still images) and 15-Stop Dynamic Range at low sensitivities

• World Class AF system featuring 693 phase-detection AF points covering 93% of the image area, 425 contrast AF points, and fast and reliable Eye AF.

Sony A7 III

From our lab and real-world testing, we've found the Sony a7 III is capable of excellent image quality - with one or two exceptions.

• Excellent 36 x 48-inch prints at ISO 50/100

•  ISO 3200 images look good at 13 x 19

•  ISO 12,800 images make a good 5 x 7

Sony A7IV

The new 33-megapixel sensor and powerful Bionz XR processor unlock some interesting new possibilities for the A7 IV, including 4K video at 60fps – although this does require a severe crop down to an APS-C field of view.

• 4K at 24/30/60fps or 1080p at 24/30/60/120fps

• Supports 11 picture profiles, including S-Log2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone

• 33-megapixel still photos

4.Screen and Viewfinder

Sony A7C

The A7C is only the second A7-series model to come with a true vari-angle screen that’s able to face forwards, which will make it far easier for vloggers and selfie shooters to keep themselves in the frame.

Sony A7 III

The A7 III has a 0.5-inch OLED electronic viewfinder that gives a clear view of the scene. It’s a large, bright viewfinder and is probably about as big a screen as you’d want that close to your eye. If it was any bigger, you’d likely have to move your eye around to check the edges of the frame.

Sony A7 IV

The options for displaying information through the viewfinder are fundamentally the same, but there are a couple of options missing compared to those for the back screen. They’re logical omissions. It doesn’t make much sense being able to black out the viewfinder. 

5.Autofocus 

Sony A7C

The a7C gets the a7 III's excellent up to 693-point focal-plane phase-detection AF system, originally inherited from the a9. In the a7C, this AF system has been updated, notably including support for Real-time Tracking and Eye AF (human) while recording video.

Sony A7 III

Both the Sony A7C and A7 III offer the same hybrid AF system comprising 693-point phase detection points and 425 contrast AF points. In total, these points cover 93% of the imaging area.

Sony A7IV

Based on our experiences, Sony A7IV's AF system is very powerful and very easy to use, giving little reason to jump between many of its (frankly overwhelming) selection of AF area modes. 

6.Video

Sony A7C

The a7C's Video is good but its operation can be a little awkward.

Sony A7 III

Despite its relatively affordable price point, the Sony a7 III is one of Sony's most capable interchangeable lens cameras for video to date.

Sony A7 IV

The a7 IV's video capabilities bring it back into competition with the capabilities offered by the likes of Panasonic and Canon, and its autofocus makes it easier to use. 

7.Battery

Sony A7C

In the a7C, the NP-FZ100 is rated for approx. 680 shots using the viewfinder or 740 shots using the LCD monitor, up modestly from the a7 III's 610 and 710 specs.

Sony A7 III

The a7 III uses the Z battery, introduced in the a9 and also used by the a7R III. It's good for 710 shots per CIPA ratings with the a7 III, as its power requirements are less than the a9 or a7R III, both rated for 650 images per charge. 

Sony A7IV

The a7 IV uses the same NP-FZ100 battery as the a7 III and other more recent Sony cameras. It's a usefully hefty unit that, combined with the relatively modest viewfinder res, lets the a7 IV achieve a CIPA battery life rating of 580 shots per charge using the rear screen and 520 shots per charge using the EVF.

8.Lens

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera.In this case, all Sony A7C , Sony A7 III  and Sony A7 IV have the same Sony E lens mount so have 185 native lenses available. All of these lenses cover Full frame sensor.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization.  all Sony A7C , Sony A7 III  and Sony A7 IV  have Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies.

9.Price

The Sony A7C is available for $1800, £1700 or €1900.

The Sony A7 III price of around $1800, £1700 or €1900 or less

The Sony A7 IV is the more expensive product and can be found for $2500, £2400 or €2800.

Sony A7C vs. A7 III vs. A7 IV Full Comparison Chart

Conclusion:Which One to Buy?

The Sony a7C's combination of size, image quality, AF performance and battery life make it a superb travel camera, but some awkward aspects of operation, including its small viewfinder, hold it back as a photographer's choice.

The Sony A7 III hardly puts a foot wrong. Its specifications make it a terrific all-rounder, one that’s so powerful that its price is actually a bit of a surprise. Its handling and control layout aren’t perfect (fans might disagree!), but that’s soon forgotten in the face of its autofocus and continuous shooting performance, not to mention its 4K video capabilities. 

The Sony A7 IVis an all-round capable camera, supporting the photographer in almost any situation. Its video capabilities live up to a similar standard, making it a hugely flexible imaging tool. Its extreme levels of customization can be daunting but its powerful autofocus system means it can be a very simple camera to use.

Related Read:

Sony A7 IV vs. Canon EOS R6 vs. Nikon Z6 II: Pros & Cons and Final Verdict

Canon vs. Nikon vs. Sony vs. Fujifilm: Which Brand Wins the Camera Showdown?

Sony A6000 vs. Canon M50 vs. Nikon D3500: Which Option is the Best?

Sony A6000 vs. A6100 vs. A6400 vs. A6600: Ultimate Comparison & Verdict 2024

Top 12 Cameras for Live Streaming on YouTube, Facebook and IG in 2024

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